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Wild Plants as a Treasure of Natural Healers
Published in Mahendra Rai, Shandesh Bhattarai, Chistiane M. Feitosa, Wild Plants, 2020
Mahendra Rai, Shandesh Bhattarai, Chistiane Mendes Feitosa
The use of more than one herb in a medicinal preparation is polyherbal formulation, and the preparations are either as single herbs or as groups of herbs in composite formulae. Polyherbal formulations consist of several bioactive components that are responsible for synergistic activity, consequently enhancing the medicinal value. Each bioactive component of the polyherbal formulation is connected to each other and is very important (Musthaba et al. 2009, Thillaivanan and Samraj 2014). The prehistoric indigenous system of medicine mentions several single and compound drug preparations of plant origin to cure various disorders (Newman and Cragg 2007, Parasuraman et al. 2014). The Ayurvedic literature has also highlighted the concept of polyherbal formulation and mentioned combined extracts of plants rather than individual ones (Srivastava et al. 2013, Parasuraman et al. 2010). Ayurvedic herbals are prepared in several dosage forms, in which almost all of them are polyherbal formulations (Srivastava et al. 2013, Parasuraman et al. 2010).
Biological Activities of Syzygium cumini and Allied Species
Published in K. N. Nair, The Genus Syzygium, 2017
Varughese George, Palpu Pushpangadan
Rajput et al. (2009) investigated the possible antidiabetic effects of alcoholic extract of bark of S. cumini, Ficus benghalensis, and Butea monosperma in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The acute oral toxicity showed that the polyherbal formulation was safe until 2000 mg/kg body weight, and no macroscopical organ abnormalities were observed in acute oral models. Oral administration of 200 mg/kg body weight of aqueous solution of polyherbal formulation for seven days exhibited significant reduction in the blood glucose level in diabetic rats. A comparison was made between the action of a prepared polyherbal formulation and a known antidiabetic drug, glibenclamide 600 μg/kg body weight. The antidiabetic effect of the polyherbal formulation was nearly comparable to that observed with glibenclamide.
Introduction
Published in Brijesh Kumar, Vikas Bajpai, Vikaskumar Gond, Subhashis Pal, Naibedya Chattopadhyay, Phytochemistry of Plants of Genus Cassia, 2021
Brijesh Kumar, Vikas Bajpai, Vikaskumar Gond, Subhashis Pal, Naibedya Chattopadhyay
C. occidentalis Linn usually grows in the southern part of India which is known as Kasmard in Sanskrit, Kasondi in Hindi and Coffee Senna in English. The plant belongs to Caesalpiniaceae family (Yadav et al., 2010; H. Singh et al., 2019). The common name is Ponnavarai in Tamil. It is an erect herb, commonly found by road sides, ditches and waste dumping sites. CO has been widely used as traditional medicine. Entire parts of the plant have medicinal values (Yadav et al., 2010; H. Singh et al., 2019). CO is an erect, somewhat branched, smooth, semi-woody, fetid herb or shrub, 0.8–1.5 m tall, tap root, hard, stout, with a few lateral roots on mid section. This plant species varies from a semi-woody annual herb in warm temperate areas to a woody annual shrub or sometimes a short-lived perennial shrub in frost-free areas. The stem of the plant is reddish-purple. The young ones are 4-sided, becoming rounded with age. Leaves are alternate, even pinnately compound, each one with 4–6 pairs of nearly sessile, opposite leaflets, with a fetid smell when crushed, each leaflet 4–6 cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm wide, ovate or oblong, lanceolate with a pointed tip and fine white hairs on the margin. The rachis has a large, ovoid, shining, dark purple gland at the base. Stipules are 5–10 mm long, often leaving an oblique scar. Inflorescence is a compound of axillary and terminal racemes. Flowers are yellow in color in short racemes, blooming in the month of July to August. The flower is perfect, 2 cm long with 5 yellowish-green sepals with distinct red veins and 5 yellow petals. The fruit is a dry, dehiscent, transversely partitioned, faintly recurved, laterally compressed, sickle shaped legume (pod), 7–12 cm long, 8–10 mm wide, with rounded tip and containing 25–50 seeds. Pods are recurved, glabrous and compressed. These are 10–12.5 cm long and 5mm. thick. Seeds are 20 to 30 in number, 6 mm long and 4 mm broad, dark olive-green in colour, ovoid, hard, smooth and shiny in appearance. Seeds are compressed at one end and rounded at other end. Seeds are oval-shaped 3.5–4.5 mm wide, flattened; pale to dark brown, slightly shiny, smooth and with a round pointed tip. This plant is widely consumed by animals and humans. However, some toxicological effects of seeds and leaves of this plant have been observed. Still, this plant is widely consumed by the local people as a coffee substitute. It is a main ingredient of Liv-52, a hepatoprotective polyherbal formulation.
Ameliorative effect of a standardized polyherbal combination in methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity in the rat
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2020
Sanchit Sharma, Sanjula Baboota, Saima Amin, Showkat R. Mir
Scientific progress has led to the improvements of Ayurvedic polyherbal formulaions (PHFs) by studying multiple phytoconstituents and discovering beneficial combinations of herbs that work synergistically to generate a desirable result. Today, because of comparable efficacy, fewer side effects and better acceptability than allopathic drugs, the ‘renaissance’ of Ayurvedic PHFs is witnessed worldwide. They generate adequate impact and safety most of the moment, making them one of the drugs of choice that are extremely chosen. However, the insufficient understanding and misconception of the public about the safety of polyherbal formulation can lead to adverse effects, toxicity and unwanted interaction. The irresponsibility of manufacturers and inadequate regulatory control around the globe has also impacted the quality of produced herbal formulations, which can be hazardous to the health of customers. In this context, to decrease the hazardous risks, implement a good practice of strict regulatory control and public education on the proper use of PHFs, preventive and corrective action is much more essential. In this context, quality control analysis of any extract or herbal combination is necessary. In our study, we performed a chromatographic analysis of all extract to authenticate and to maintain its quality. HPLC fingerprinting analysis of combination was carried out for quality control analysis for its safety and efficacy. Similar chromatographic profiles ensure similar pharmacological activities. Boeravionone b (Rt 11.44), emodin (Rt 6.415), quercetin (Rt 8.407) and lupeol (Rt 16.181) are some common and specific markers of selected plant material were identified in the developed combination. The identification of these markers can be used for the pharmacokinetic profiling of combination. We have performed in silico screening of some specific markers with XO. These markers showed a higher affinity towards the selected protein, and this study supports its nephroprotective activity. Further, molecular research is needed to confirm its mechanism.
Therapeutic and cosmetic applications of mangiferin: an updated patent review (patents published after 2013)
Published in Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents, 2019
Farha Quadri, Manasi Telang, Anita Mandhare
The pharmacological use of mangiferin is restricted by poor solubility and low bioavailability [49,50]. Significantly better bioavailability has been reported when mangiferin is coadministered with other herbs. This could probably be the main reason that it is used in polyherbal formulation in traditional Chinese and Indian medicines [51]. However, to make new therapeutic formulations using pure mangiferin or its derivatives, it is necessary to develop efficient drug delivery systems to enhance its solubility and bioavailability. Microencapsulation processes are an alternative to enhance solubility of bioactive materials and a good way to preserve, protect, and control the release rate of a substance until it reaches its target in the body. Drug retaining ability of different natural polysaccharides was tested by microencapsulation of mangiferin. The highest encapsulation efficiency was determined to be for pectins using Polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) as emulsifier designed mangiferin loaded magnetic Poly (ε-caprolactone)-poly (ethyleneglycol)-poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL, PCEC) microspheres as effective carrier for mangiferin in cancer chemotherapy [51,52]. Use of absorption enhancers as coexcipients was suggested to improve gastrointestinal absorption of mangiferin. In vivo studies confirmed seven fold increase in the oral bioavailability when combined with Carbopol 974P (100 mg/kg) [53]. Mangiferin – phospho lipid complex loaded in nanostructured lipid carriers enhanced intestinal permeation parameters of mangiferin [54]. These trends in recently published research articles were also reflected in filing of related patents as revealed in section 4. Mangiferin phospholipid complex, nano-emulsion comprising mangiferin-cyclodextrin complex, encapsulated gold nanoparticles of mangiferin, formulations containing enzyme inhibitors that help to avoid pre-systemic metabolism of mangiferin in the intestines were some of the approaches disclosed in the patent documents. These approaches claimed to enhance bioavailability and targeted delivery of mangiferin. Improvements in drug delivery systems of mangiferin might help in designing and planning of clinical trials using specific doses of a single bioactive for a particular disease.